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 Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 10:18 pm
..::2.26.07::..
I can almost hear my sisters laughing at me. Me, the child most adamant about decrying our past has landed a job working at a laboratory. It seems against my nature to say the least, downright blasphemous to say the most. And yet, somehow it feels right. More than that, I think I need this.
Perhaps I can blame Raeven for that. Raeven was the one who suggested it to me-- I've been listening to him far too much. But he's led me to such wonders-- but I know where to stop. I think. I know he can't be trusted. I know he's not someone who faith can be put into. He's my doppelgänger, after all, everything I fear about myself-- at least I've come to realize that much...
But he's still the reason I'm here. The reason I now have a little girl crawling around, tugging at me, attempting to gain my attention. She's upset that I'm writing and not paying attention to her-- I seem to attract that kind of clingy, attention-hungry child. Ah well. I don't mind it. Not at all.
Perhaps I should-- Winter would say I do. But Winter's not here to see how Imelda charms her way into my heart, so darling a little girl...
She's going to be a handful though-- I saw the way she looked at me when she realized that I was paying attention to that strange other-worldly child in the common room... but I can't hold that against her.
I really am a sucker for sweethearts. But I'd best go pay attention to her before she pouts and throws an adorable fit... I'll return to this log another time.
~Raven
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Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 2:41 am
draconianraven Raven held Imelda close in her arms as they were sitting in the main room. The little girl was having a hard time adjusting to the fact that Raven had other interests than her, which was troublesome. Having multiple children who were absolutely in love with themselves was going to cause a headache. Having more than that in the family was going to cause multiple headaches across the sisters, the extended family...
But Raven didn't care. After all, she was here with Immy now, and the little girl was absorbed in Raven being absorbed with her.
Kyocho Kyo released a long sigh as he rested his back against the cushion of the desk chair. So far it's been a long long day and with the crying and whining of a baby wasn't helping. Even though he had another charge that he was looking after, Oak knew how to care for himself... but Opuntia couldn't do any of that himself. "Opuntia why can't you care for yourself? Maybe I should get Oak in here to help out... since he's part plant." Kyo shrugged and smirked, "no.. we can't do that. Well hey why not go for a walk around the new wing and maybe stop off and get some fresh air?" Kyo nodded. Pushing himself up off his chair. The elf wandered over to his new charge and reached down and carefully put his arms carefully around the sleeping-half-awake child, but carefully avoiding the spines that lined his body. Kyo opened his office door and gave it a silent close. Even though the wing was empty, since none of the vale where old enough to need it. The elf let out a sigh again. I can't wait to get this wing up and running..draconianraven Spotting the office door opening and then closing again, Raven blinked, curious. Hey, maybe that'd be someone she could find out more information from? Or at least someone who she could talk to. Raven shifted Imelda gently as she stood, wanting to see what was going on.
Immy was more than a little displeased that Raven wasn't giving her the undivided attention she deserved, but hey... it wasn't a problem. Yet. Pouting slightly, she clung to Raven.
Kyocho Kyo's face was partially shaded by a few strands of hair falling over his face. A slight sigh escaped his lips as he lifted his head back up, while he pushed the strands back with his left hand. A slight glimpse of a figure appeared in the corner of his eye. "Oh.. um hi." Kyo smiled gently as he pushed Opuntia higher up on his torso and rested the babes sleeping head on his right shoulder. "Is there something I can help you two with?" draconianraven "I was just... I mean," Raven stumbled for a moment before, "...I simply was... I haven't met many other guardians of these little children," she explained finally, motioning eloquently to Imelda.
Kyocho "Ah... ok." Kyo moved his left arm away from his charge and handed it over to the wandering observer. "Well I’m Researcher Kyocho, I’m... watching over this new wing." The elf gave a nod of his head, then slightly tilted it to the side and stared blankly at the observer. draconianraven "Ah," Raven nodded slightly, considering this. Researcher. That was someone who paid attention to things and carried a position of some importance. Raven should remember that. "What wing is this?" she asked after a moment, belatedly realizing she didn't already know the answer to the query.
Imelda frowned to herself, tugging at Raven's earlobe to try to regain her guardian's attention. She didn't want Raven to pay attention to other people, just to her.
Kyocho "Ah, this is the Esperanza Wing. It's not quite open and running at it's full potential yet." Kyo nodded a small smile on his face. "Although hopefully soon it will be." The elf tapped a finger on his chin. "You still have yet to introduce yourself. Do you mind telling me who you are?" Opuntia slowly opened his eyes. Still feeling a slight bit drowsy, which was normal for him. Being a cactus and all. A yawn escaped his green lips, then his eyes closed once again. draconianraven She must have been scattered, she usually wasn't this rude! Raven smiled wryly. "Ah, I'm Raven. Dr. Raven Hiai, one of the observers here. Sorry for not introducing myself earlier." She should've known better than to start talking to someone without thinking this through!
Imelda glared at the green thing, as he was the object of the object of Raven's attention. It made more sense to her than glaring at the researcher.
Kyocho "It's nothing to worry about. It's very nice to meet you Observer Raven." Kyo winced at saying Observer, he wasn't much for formalities, but it's something he would have to work on and get used to. "Or shall I just call you Raven and forget the formalities. I'm not really used to using them," Kyo nodded, "Oh and what brings you all the way out here?" Opuntia's eyes shot open. Causing a pen to shoot out of Kyo's lab coat pocket. Then his eyes looked up into his guardian and glared for a minute, just before he shifted his body around so he could get a better look at the one sending that strange feeling that some one is watching you. "There.. he goes again." Kyo sighed. draconianraven Indeed, the little green... Vale... seemed to be doing something. He was shifting around, though Raven had to wonder-- wouldn't those spikes hurt? He must've been some sort of cacti... ah well. Something to onder on later. "Just Raven's fine," the girl murmured after a moment. "And how shall I address you, Sir?" she asked, considering. After all, it was fine for him to neglect the formalities in addressing her, as she was the inferior of the two, but would it be terribly out of place for her to neglect them as well?
Imelda snuggled up to Raven, ignoring Opuntia. She'd decided he wasn't a threat, especially now that he moved. Movement was a sign of being there, not really necessary to consider. Usually. Sometimes the opposite.
Kyocho Kyo winced. Even though the spines that lined Opuntia where present, they where not all that sharp... at least not yet. "...Y..You can call me Kyo." The elf nodded. Piercing his eyes slightly. "Yeah.. Kyo should be good." Kyo sighed.. "Ok.. I can't handle this any more. Opuntia, you need to relax and turn back around for now." The elf rested his hands round the babes waists and then turned him back around, so that Opuntia's face was once again resting on his shoulder. "I'm going to need to find something to strap him across my back tomorrow. Hey, you wouldn't have any suggestions would you?" Opuntia released an unsettling grunt as he was flipped around. No longer being able to return the watchful eye the girl was giving him. draconianraven Nodding slightly, Raven smiled. "Kyo then. It's a pleasure to meet you as well." Not a pleasure Raven had very often, meeting someone within a work place who seemed to be mostly friendly. Perhaps it came of being emotionally distant due to the... no. She was just... weird. Good girl. Grew up in a mostly stable environment. It separated her from the norm of the Gaian population.
As for suggestions... that Raven had to think about it. How would she deal with a cactus child? "Well... perhaps if you had some extra lining? Something around him which would let his spines go into that, as opposed to into you?" she answered after a moment of thought.
Kyocho "Hmmm..." Kyo tapped his finger against his chin, "That might be a bit more work than I really want to put out. Maybe I can find some kind of straps that I can put around his body" The elf’s expression drew more quiet and subdued. "Then I can just strap him to my back and arms." The elf nodded. "Oh and yeah it's a pleasure to meet you as well, Raven." draconianraven "That could work," Raven nodded after a moment. "So... tell me, Kyo, what does your wing of this institution do?" she asked, considering him and Opuntia.
Imelda snuggled up to Raven, tugging at her, trying to gain more attention. After all, it was important. She wanted her attention. Attention was good...
Kyocho "Well if I told you it wouldn't be a surprise in the future right?" A grin grew across the elf's face. Most of the other employees knew of the contents of the new wing, but if some one didn't know exactly what the wing was doing. Then what was the point in telling them now, just savor the moment and build the excitement later on. "How about you tell me about your little girl there." The elf nodded, "What kind of plant is she?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 3:16 am
.:3.23.07:.
Imelda was sulking. Raven was spending more and more time locked in thought, which meant less time spent on the important things in life like Immy. She was spending more and more time considering whatever she was considering which she didn't need to consider. Immy wanted attention, and she wanted it now. And that meant that she did whatever she had to in order to get attention. If this meant disrupting Shan's sleep and making the little blue creature more annoyed, that didn't matter. What mattered was Immy getting the attention she wanted and deserved.
Besides, it's not like anyone was getting hurt!
Shan grimaced as he saw the little brat coming towards him again, through the single blue eye he had open in case someone snuck up on him while he was trying to sleep. Why was he being tormented?! If she wanted Raven's attention, she could very well go get it by bothering her and not him and why was she coming towards him?!?!?!?! He could've sworn, if he'd thought he could get away with it.
Raven had assigned him to watch Immy for a little bit while she went and got some papers. That was the whole reason she'd transferred him over here as opposed to leaving him at the house all the time. She wanted him to keep an eye on the little girl since he was mildly capable, and had proven that he could be relied upon to keep Imelda in her playpen as long as he stayed in there as well.
This wasn't fair. He was going to protest to Raven (again) once she got back.
"Buu~" Immy cooed as she moved towards him, tugging at his little wings in a way sure to charm the little creature into helping her out. "Buu, o-pen?" she asked, pointing towards the playpen opening.
"No," Shan glared at her, moving away from the dangerous baby-thing.
"Buu, pway?"
"No," Shan repeated himself, wondering what was taking Raven so long.
"Buu, wanna pway~!" Immy protested, catching Shan's tail as he tried to scoot away from her. "Pway now~" Because Imelda was determined to get her way. She always got her way. It was the way things worked.
"I don't want to play with a little brat."
"Buu being mean~" she whined, just as Raven moved inside the office.
Raven sighed, looking from her little girl to the little creature she'd left in charge. Imelda, as expected, was pouting, sulking, her lower lip quivering as if she were about to burst into tears over being left with the obstinate creature. Raven had to do her best not to smile, not to laugh at the little girl's frustration. Did Immy know how cute she was when she sulked like that, her golden curls framing her face to make her appear so frustrated, green-green eyes shining with a mixture of attempted manipulation and true irritation towards Shan?
Of course not. That was part of her charm-- she didn't realize that she could gain the attention she wanted with much greater ease than most of Raven's other children. Most, not all. "All right, all right," Raven shook her head slightly. "C'mon, you two, we're heading home. Immy, we're going to visit Aunty Arch and Eri today, all right?" she suggested. "You like spending time with your cousin Eri, don't you?"
The mention of cousin Eri brought a true smile to Immy's naturally glossy lips. Eri always paid attention. Eri always wanted to play. Not like Shan, Blue, the little creature who was Immy's more constant companion. He wasn't any fun. If Immy had her way all the time, Eri would be the one with her, but Eri was Aunty Arch's daughter, which meant that they didn't spend time together 'cause they didn't live together, which wasn't fun or fair. Maybe Eri would come live with them sometime?
"I thought so," Raven smiled. "Come on then, little one. We'd better get going, or we'll miss Eri completely, all right? She was going to head to the park," she teased, knowing Immy couldn't resist playing with her cousin at the park near Arch's manor. "Thank you for watching her, Shan," Raven murmured to the little demon, knowing he wouldn't respond but that he needed to hear the thanks all the same. Her strange children...
Scooping Imelda and Shan both up, Raven grabbed her purse with her other hand and moved out of her office, out of the building and to her car. They had family to meet.
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Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 2:36 pm
It had been supposed to be a 'girl's night out' at the Nest, with Hera taking charge, herding the other girls towards the movie theatre. Eri was (kind of) the oldest, so she was the one driving, but Hera, with the much more dominant personality, directed the endeavor. The drive itself progressed mostly uneventfully, except for the bickering over who would sit where, with it finally being decided that Kiku would sit in the back between Imelda's car-seat and Erianthe's demanded seat. Renjyo and Eleanor were pushed to the center of the van, with Hera taking shotgun as appointed navigator. It wasn't that bad, Hera reflected as they drove in mostly silence-- it had only taken them two hours to get into the car and settled. Not bad at all.
Surprisingly enough, the choice of movie hadn't been too difficult either. That was the part which truly surprised Hera, since she'd estimated another hour of bickering before they mutually agreed on the movie. Undoubtedly that was the doing of Kiku's dazed nature over the past few months, Erianthe and Imelda's near worship of Erimentha, and the fact that Renjyo and Eleanor were easily overruled in these cases.
"All right! So, Music and Lyrics it is!" Hera proclaimed, inwardly grimacing. This was one of those lovey-dovey movies that the girl would just gag over, but what choice did she have? The other kids had all agreed. Who was she to be the downer at this point?
Imelda whined as she clung to Eri, not liking the dark of the theatre as they entered. Too dark for the little orchid girl, she didn't like the dark... but there were pretty sounds and Eri's pearl earrings glowed in the dark. That made it a little better as they were led deeper into the theatre, to where they all sat in a nice row, a slight scuffle for who got to sit where taking up the bulk of the previews.
Was this what it was going to be like when she had her own little child? Eri wondered as she indulged Imelda, letting the baby sit on her lap. This kind of closeness, this way they all laughed, related so well to each other-- would this be what it was like? Would her child fit in with the cousins as well as they all fit together? What if she or he didn't? Would that-- no thinking now. Movie.
Erianthe smirked slightly to herself as they sat in the dark, her tail swooshing about in anticipation of what was coming. The lights were off and now they would watch and then they would play! Girl's night out had its wonderful moments. It was why Erianthe knew she could always count on her cousins to play with. They loved being tricked or at least responded well-- oooooh! MUSIC.
Quiet, Kiku watched the movie, not really paying attention. Too much had been happening recently. There had been a rush of pieces of information, Aunt Arch, who carried that strange sense like her Teacher, though the Lady claimed to not know Kiku... and then, of course, Eri, who seemed to be older, but she'd only just come into the family... Kiku didn't understand all of it. Perhaps she wasn't meant to. Either way, it seemed odd, and it kept her from considering things the way she normally would. She had to lose herself in the movie.
This movie really had been Renjyo's choice-- though she'd never admit that to Hera, since big mean older sister would probably have chosen a different one. She'd let Eri know which one she'd wanted to see and watched her cousin skillfully convince everyone to listen because everyone listened to Eri because she was the new one and the sweet one and didn't live with them, which made it easier on everyone. But Renjyo had heard the music and she wanted to hear more and more and more because that was the way that you learned about the music. It was different kind of music, pretty costumes than the rock from Japan Renjyo had consumed herself with recently, but not bad. Good, even... good to learn more about music.
Eleanor watched in silence, not really understanding. She'd only agreed to come along on this outing because... well, frankly, it was more interesting than staying at home with the adults and males. And besides, movies were interesting-- a way to observe that which was real which had become false which was being portrayed as something real. She could appreciate the irony in all of it, the way no one really did or said what they meant, all from a script someone had dreamed up to try to express something which didn't really exist.
After the movie, Eri took the girls to get ice cream, wondering when, really, they would be able to head back to the house. After all, things were happening now, and Eri was somewhat anxious to get back to her precious cabbage plant, even if it meant cutting short her time with her cousins. Ah well. Best to go with what was happening here, letting the girls have their fun, right? Besides, they were on their way soon enough, back to the house, back towards the rest of the family.
Something was different about Eri now, and Immy didn't like it. She didn't want her Eri to not pay attention, to be distracted enough to make it so Immy felt left out. Eri was the only one who really would play with Immy, and the fact that Eri wasn't being her usual self made the little Vale unhappy. It wasn't fair, wasn't right. Things weren't supposed to be done this way. It wasn't the way she was used to. It made Immy want to scream, but Eri had responded badly to screams in the past. Unhappily, the little girl shifted in Eri's arms, sucking on the spoonful of ice cream she'd been given.
Something weird was happening with the family tonight. It wasn't the same as it usually was, with their rampant running about playing tag in the dark. Eri felt weird, Kiku was being a cloudhead the way she'd been since Aunty Arch showed up at the Nest for the first time with Eri in tow, Renjyo was being quiet for once, seeming to digest the movie, Eleanor was never any fun, Hera was being bossy like usual, and Immy was just a baby, so Erianthe felt more than a little frustrated. She wanted to go somewhere, do something. Break into the zoo and see all the animals, something heroic! Something that took courage! But no one else seemed to have that drive tonight, which was a disappointment. 'Anthe was still too young to do this sort of thing on her own. So she just sulked a little, eating her double chocolate chocolate mint ice cream with chocolate sprinkles and chocolate fudge sauce and wanting everythings to go back to the way they were supposed to be.
Maybe it was just that the movie had been strange, but Hera could feel the tension in her sisters and her cousin. Things weren't going well. "All right, time to head home, I think," Hera finally decided, the blue girl pushing a strand of hair back, annoyed that it had fallen free of her high ponytail. "Besides, it's getting cold, and since no one really thought to bring a jacket," a pointed look at Renjyo and Erianthe, the two who were beginning to shiver slightly, "we should get back before people get sick and Mom gets mad at us. All right?"
Hera was always so bossy! But Renjyo shrugged, finishing up her vanilla ice cream and tossing it away. She'd gotten all dressed up for tonight, and she wasn't even getting to show it off? Oh well. The movie had been fun, with songs about sweet people and strange loves and people who were saying things they didn't mean and doing things they didn't say. People people.
"You probably want to wash off your makeup before we get back," Eleanor murmured to Renjyo. None of the other girls had really noticed the child's attempt at makeup-- a half-decent attempt, in Renjyo's defense. "Mother won't be pleased to know you've been in her collection again.
Renjyo rolled her eyes as she wiped it off, part of her glad Eleanor remembered to remind her. Mother had already gotten angry at her once for that same thing-- Renjyo wasn't really ready to repeat that.
Standing as well, Kiku moved to the car, gently helping herd everyone else along. The night had been spoiled before it had even begun, hadn't it? Something strange was infecting the girls of this family, and Kiku had yet to discover what it was...
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:38 pm
.3.26.07.
"All right, all right," Raven laughed softly as Imelda pouted up at her. "I'm sorry I've been busy, sweetheart," she murmured, scooping the orchid-child up for a kiss on the cheek, smile widening when Immy allowed it, even though she didn't stop sulking for a moment. Little attention-loving brat. "I'm here now though, and it's just you and me, darling."
That was true. Imelda had to weigh that against the fact that Raven had been closeted away for the past few days, leaving Immy in the care of her aunts and siblings and cousin Eri. It was nice to be waited upon by her other family members, but she wanted Raven's attention. Considering it, Imelda continued to sulk, since she knew Raven would fuss.
"I brought you a present."
That brought about an immediate change in Imelda's demeanor, twisting up to see what Raven had.
Laughing, Raven held up the little mp3 player she'd procured from the equipment shop on her way over to see her darling girl. The song she'd been a bit wary about, but... it seemed to fit Imelda. Not that it was necessarily a good thing, but... better to get her something she might relate to. Better to focus on the child and not the flaws of her. Right? Of course. "This is for you, pretty one," she smiled and handed it over, fastening it around Imelda's neck. "Do you like it?"
Considering it, turning it over in her hands, Imelda smiled, pushing at the buttons. She liked it. It was good. Mommy brought her presents. That meant mommy cared. Mommy loved making Immy happy, and that made Immy happy. A good kind of relationship where both people helped each other and made each other good. "Laik," she nodded, eyes widening as the thing started making noise in her hands.
"It plays a little song for you, so when we can't be with you, you can still have something to remind you," Raven murmured, pulling her little girl closer. "So don't be sad when I have to go away for short periods of time, okay? I'll always come back to you. I promise."
And Immy knew, on some level, that Raven would. Her mother wasn't the sort of person who would up and abandon her kids. She knew that. Immy could understand and accept that and be happy with it. It made sense. And gifts meant Mommy had been thinking of her while they'd been apart. It couldn't have been easy to get the gift for her, so Mommy made an effort. That meant something special. Immy liked feeling special.
Satisfied that her little girl had accepted the 'tribute', Raven smiled slightly, wrapping Imelda up in the gold-embroidered blanket she'd gotten for her, getting her things together. There would be a family dinner tonight, and Immy had to look her best-- the little girl wouldn't have anything else. "All right then. Let's go get ready to see everyone, sweetheart," she murmured.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 3:29 am
"So you're telling me that you're upset with me for working with the scientists while you're off working in a lab and taking home lab kids?" Arch stared at Raven. "What kind of crazed logic is that?" she demanded, glaring at her sister. It didn't make sense. Who was Raven to tell her that she was in the wrong given everything that had been happening, given the way their world worked? "Winter, you're not mad at me, are you?" Arch whirled about to face her other sister.
"Don't pull me into this, Arch-- this is between you and Raven. I'll wait until you two are done tearing each other apart before I say my part," Winter shrugged, tending to the children too young to be left on their own. Where was Erimentha when they needed her help?
In truth, Raven felt a mass of conflicting emotions. She could protest, of course, that her children had nothing to do with their past, but she couldn't... couldn't so blatantly lie to Arch, to Winter, her sisters, her fellow pieces of the same mind. Of course it had something to do with their shared past. But she responded differently than either of her sisters. "It's a different story there," she murmured after a moment, the closest thing to a protest she could form with her sisters in the room.
"How so?" Arch demanded.
Imelda didn't like the way her mother shifted uneasily, the way she thought before answering, the way she seemed so set on finding the right answers. Immy didn't like the tension in the room, the way everyone felt so upset. She was getting attention from Winter, but not from anyone else because of the tension. It wasn't the way things were supposed to be. Everyone was supposed to be happy so they would pay attention to her because Immy was important! This was wrong!
Finally collecting her thoughts, Raven sighed after a moment. "I try to fix things. I took in Jett because D-Corp asked me to, because they knew enough that I couldn't refuse. And because I want to give him a better life than we had growing up--"
"Don't martyr us along with you, Raven," Arch practically snarled.
"I'm not martyring anyone! It's a fact that our childhoods were more than a little messed up because of those scientists!" Raven glared. "Those tests, knowing what we are... it made everything more about the science than about us. Childhood should be about playgrounds and swings and fun. Not about tests and procedures and maybes." Touching her hand to her pendant, Raven swallowed hard, wrapping her hand around the warm crystal, finding some comfort in its gentle pulse.
Arch didn't know if she could argue that, not without understanding more. "Fine, we'll discuss that later. Why'd you take a job at a lab if you wanted to fix things and are against what we had? Isn't it the same thing? You're not even allowed to take her out," Arch indicated Imelda with a wave of her well-manicured hand, "unless you're sure she's protected, and she's only allowed to be seen by the family! That's why the kids have to be careful when they're out together, why--"
"--and how is it any different than Eri's child?" Raven shot back.
"You mean the cabbage head? That's completely different! It's not a lab! It's not an experiment-- which you seem so against--"
"--I'm against the principle of using people, children--"
"Which they're not doing anymore!" As soon as the words left Arch's mouth, she knew she shouldn't have said it. She shouldn't be revealing what was going on to her sisters-- especially not to the emotional Raven. It was in her contract to not divulge information-- though, technically, since they were all the same person, did it really count against her?
"Then what are they doing, Arch?" Winter asked quietly while Raven stood there in angry shock. "I think since you've gone this far, you should explain further.
"I can't--"
"You'd better," Winter cut her off shortly. "You've opened the door."
What was going on? Imelda didn't understand the way everything suddenly shifted, Aunty Arch suddenly on the defensive, shifting uncomfortably in the dim light of the room. She wasn't happy or angry anymore, she was just... scared? Maybe. Immy couldn't really tell-- she wasn't good with people yet. Not that she really cared to be very good with people unless it happened that it granted her some sort of power over them. And this wouldn't. Would it? She didn't know, and she didn't really care. She didn't like the way everything seemed to be so vicious and curious at this time...
Sighing softly, knowing that her sisters wouldn't back down now that they'd been given a chance to find out the truth, Arch acquiesced. After all, how could she stand up to their united questions? She was the youngest, the last made of the pieces. "They've finished their research. They've moved onto better things. There's a reason that they did what they did-- there's a reason for it all. And now pretty much..." How could she explain to them what was happening without it sounding like a bad thing?
"Pretty much what?" Raven asked, prompting Arch.
"Let her speak, Raven," Winter murmured.
Pouting, Imelda tugged at Winter, wanting her attention back to the importance of Imelda, rather than the unhappiness of whatever was going on between the other sisters.
Mentally thanking Winter for the vote of confidence-- or whatever it was-- Arch nodded slightly as if clearing her head. "It's almost... they want to try to fix things. If you've noticed, the world here on Gaia is fragmented, everything mixed up. They want to remedy that--"
"Don't be fooled by their idealistic prattle," Raven warned, moving to pick Imelda up, shushing her softly. "You're just going to end up used by them--"
"You're just bitter because of the fact that you can't let anything go--"
"Don't make this personal, Arch. You know Raven has perfectly good reason to be worried about the motives of our dear scientists," Winter warned, a touch of anger in her voice. "Keep this to the facts."
"Fine," Arch took a deep breath, letting her mind focus again. "They think that we were a success-- a way to make the world more stable because of the splitting of the base personality into different traits which can keep each other in check. Which is what we're doing now, isn't it?"
Raven couldn't argue with that-- it was too obvious that they worked well together. But she didn't have to like it either. She didn't have to find it right or good or anything like that. But she couldn't argue with the facts, which was why Winter wanted it to be based on the facts.
Imelda whined softly as she snuggled up to Raven, not liking the way this was turning. Mommy was unhappy, getting more and more so. Immy didn't like it when Mommy was unhappy. It meant she didn't pay attention to the importance of Imelda-- it meant she paid attention to thoughts of unhappiness. That wasn't right. Wasn't the way things should be. She shouldn't--
"Is there anything else?" Arch sighed after a moment of silence, glancing at Raven more than Winter. It was Raven who had the questions. Winter knew logically that Arch was right.
Shaking her head mutely, Raven gave her little girl another kiss on the cheek, unhappy with this turn of events. Things shouldn't feel like this. Things shouldn't be this complicated. They hadn't been before-- and Raven hadn't gotten a chance to explain herself. What'd that mean, that she wasn't sure how to justify all of it to herself even? Did it mean she was in the wrong?
Well then. She was going to leave if there wasn't anything new to say. She was going to leave if there wasn't anything she could say to further convince her sisters that she wasn't working for the evil empire. If they weren't going to be open to the idea, what could she do to help them? Nodding slightly, Arch murmured her farewell and slipped out the door, intent on going home and getting very, very drunk.
"Don't think about what she said too much, Raven," Winter sighed softly as she rose as well, moving to give her sister a gentle hug. "You know she's just passionate about things."
Raven nodded absently, "I know, Winter. She's just... strong willed. We all are in our own way. I know that." And she did. Logically. Not necessarily in her heart, but she knew Arch hadn't meant to upset her. Things just happened that way, miscommunication. It showed how they had moved away from one another, how things had become so muddled between the sisters. Kissing Immy again, she cradled the child. Innocence. Everything right and nothing wrong. "I just... need to be alone right now, Winter."
Nodding slightly, understanding her sister on more levels than she cared to explain, Winter gave her sister a final hug before slipping out as well.
Watching her sisters leave, Raven pulled Imelda closer, needing the comfort of her daughter at this time. "I'm not wrong for wanting you. For wanting to take care of you. Things are just… confusing now…"
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 11:37 am
.:Babies in the Room:.
Continued in the Awareness Thread
draconianraven Something about the way Kyo seemed to avoid questions which didn't seem particularly secret and turned it back on Raven rubbed the girl the wrong way, though she naturally withheld from saying anything. After all, Kyo held more status than she did. There was nothing she could do to change that, and it wouldn't look good if she attempted to question him. Raven hated hierarchy and pretense sometimes.
"She's a cypripedium acaule," Raven smiled, hiding her thoughts easily. "Her name's Imelda."
Kyocho "Well it's very nice to meet you Imelda." The elf nodded. Staring at the little girl. He then shifted his gaze back up to Raven. "How long have you two been working here? Usually I get to see everyone here... maybe I’m getting to busy hiding away in here." Kyo tapped his fingers on Opuntia's back. "That reminds me... I need to get some more equipment before I return to work... oh sorry. I’m blabbing on.." draconianraven Immy turned to look at the elf, smiling winningly before snuggling up to Raven almost shyly. She didn't want to play too easy to get.
"We've been here... maybe a month and a half?" Raven considered, kissing Imelda on the top of her head, wondering slightly about that. Was it that long? "What kind of equipment did you need, Kyo?"
Kyocho "Well it's nice to make your acquaintance Raven!" The elf nodded a smile across his face. "I just need to grab some chemicals, soil, and a few new pots." The elf rattled through his brain making sure that was really all that he needed to be set for a few days, "Yeah... I think that is it." Opuntia opened his eyes and looked up at his guardian. A yawn escaped his green lips. "Looks like some one is getting tired. I think it's best I get those items and get this little guy to bed. I hope we run into you guys again in the future." Kyo nodded. draconianraven Raven nodded, giving Kyo a smile. "Indeed. Well, I'm sure we'll see each other again, given the nature of this establishment," she murmured, shifting Imelda closer before moving off to allow Kyo to continue his work.
Imelda snuggled up to Raven, glad that she was back to paying attention to more important things as they headed back to the Raven's office. Sleep time now then...
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Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 5:51 pm
Needed: One Friend For A Brat
In Progress
draconianraven Oh, Imelda. Raven stared at the little girl in her arms with mild disbelief as they sat on a couch in the lounge. She was such a little brat sometimes! In many ways, Raven didn't know how she stood her. The little girl was just... impossible to deal with. Grimacing slightly, she pressed a kiss to the girl's forehead. "Good god, Immy," she sighed.
It took longer and longer to get Imelda to sleep these days-- and Raven knew that the little girl would wake up as soon as she put her down. Damn. Damn, damn, and damn. How was she supposed to get anything done like this? She needed someone to play with Imelda for a moment. Or distract her as soon as the girl woke up.
Maybe Raven should hunt down someone to be her friend in this place, given that the only other person she'd run into was that Kyocho character...
Yiiei She rolled on the balls of her heels as she debated dumping her baby with someone else again while she tried to get her work done. Eury was an easy baby to take care of but she was just so... uninterested in anyone else. Yiiei wasn't even sure if the persimmon baby had any interest in her. Tapping a finger on her chin she made up her mind and picked up Eury from her cradle.
"Come on baby. We're going to find you a playmate," she said sweetly to the baby as she muttered something underneath her breath about how Eury needed one.
Strolling down the hall, the observer thought about who to terrorize. She thought about Kitten but decided to land Seveda with her baby so soon after she had babysat Eury already. Yiiei walked by Raven's lab and did a double take. Why not?
Unsure of how to introduce herself or let herself in, Yiiei rapped at the door awkwardly. She should have called ahead but that would have been difficult considering she hadn't even thought about who to go to. She hoped that Raven would be all right with allowing her orchid baby Imelda play with Eury. She prayed that Eury would show some interest in the other baby. draconianraven Shocked out of her contemplation by the knock, Raven rose, shifting Imelda in her arms to keep the girl asleep. "Come in!" she called as softly as she could while still getting the message across. Oh, Imelda.
The little girl's eyes opened, blinking as she the world swam back into focus. Mommy was still holding her, so that wasn't why she was waking up. But then... why? What was going on? "Mama?" she asked quietly, snuggling up to her distracted parent.
"Shh, darling," Raven hushed her, gently holding her closer. Oh, look. Someone had woken Imelda, but she was in a good mood right now! That was a good sign, right? It made it all easier on everyone.
Yiiei Yiiei walked in and settled Eury on her shaky feet, holding her small hands to keep her from falling over. Looking up from the baby to the observer, Yiiei gave a smile, "Hello. I'm Yiiei and this is Eury. I thought that perhaps your baby might want some company?" The short observer gave Raven a hopeful look.
In the meantime Eury was looking at the small blond specimen. Tilting her head just slightly to the side before she turned her head skywards to look at the strange woman who had been providing her with food and a warm bed. Why was she here? She wanted to go back to her cradle.
The girl ignored her charges clear desire to return to the laboratory. She was determined to have the persimmon baby make at least one friend, even a foe if need be, she just wanted to make sure that Eury didn't turn out to be what she and her Korean friends called 'Wangta,' meaning loner, loser, outcast. draconianraven Blinking slowly, Raven considered Yiiei and then the tiny baby in her arms. Eury. Hah. What did Raven remember about that one from her notes? ...nothing, actually. Damn, she was slipping. Oh well, she'd fix that at a later time. "Ah, hello there! I'm Raven, and this is Imelda. She's just woken up, but I'm sure she wouldn't mind someone coming to play."
Imelda blinked twice at the newcomers, considering them. She liked the way her mother relaxed at the sight of the pair-- probably because Raven had been so jittery recently about everything. "...pe-ple," she mused, snuggling up to her mother before her mother's words hit her. Play? With someone outside of her family? ...that would be different. Weird.
But not bad.
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Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 6:16 pm
Staring at the tiny creature, Imelda considered it. What was it? Buzzing about like some strange little thing which made lots of noise and couldn't stay still, whirring as it flew about her head. "A'ssandwo," she pouted slightly at it, having named her gift already. "No faiy, fwyin. Immy cann' fwy."
"That's because Immy isn't a dragonfly, dear," Raven remarked absently as she glanced at her little girl crawling about after her new companion. Pet. Whatever. "Immy's a little girl, and little girls have trouble flying, unless they were born with wings." Strange how easily that addendum came. "And you weren't, sweetheart."
Not quite understanding why he was at his mother's lab, helping keep watch over his little sister while his mother pretended to be doing research, Jett sighed and considered Imelda. "No one at our home can fly." Well, one day Eleanor might be able to, but not now. Not yet.
Imelda stared at her spider-brother in abject 'like that matters'. Things like that weren't Imelda's concern! Immy did what she did because she did them, not because other people did them. "Jech being whee-ad," she accused, pouting slightly as she motioned for Alessandro to fly closer. The little dragonfly did, bringing a smile to Imelda's plump cheeks. "Yay!" she grinned, gently running a delicate finger over the creature's head, feeling the soft little feelers.
"So you say," Jett shrugged, leaning against the back of the couch, relaxing slightly. Mindful of the fact that he was supposed to be playing with his little sister and not just let her wander about with her new pet, Jett sighed again and stood to go over to Imelda. "Here," he started to weave a web for her to play with, showing her the stickiness of the strands.
This was why she had such a cool brother! Giggling, Imelda took the web from her brother, showing it to Alessandro, giving Jett such a sweet smile as to draw a responsive smile from the usually stoic spider, unknowingly calling upon some of her talents she'd been practicing to get her way. "A'ssandwo, wookie!" she showed it to him, watching, dumbfounded as the little creature got caught inside the web. "Wha' happen?!" she stared as Alessandro struggled.
...actually, Jett hadn't seen this happen before. He found himself as clueless as the little girl, which threw him off. He wasn't used to new things happening with his web, his pieces which he already knew. "...Mother...?" he turned towards the desk.
...ooooh dear. Perhaps it hadn't been such a good idea to bring her spider child when Imelda had just gotten a little bug friend to play with. "Ah--" Raven rose to deal with the problem, bending down to look at poor, struggling Alessandro. "Imelda, Jett, Alessandro's going to have a hard time playing games like this-- the same way your web sticks to other things, Jett, it's sticking to Alessandro. That's really not a good thing," she mused as she tried to free the creature without squishing it.
He hadn't meant to cause a problem. Actually, he'd just been trying to entertain his sister, and apparently he'd gone about it in the wrong way. It figured. He wasn't good at dealing with people, especially his sisters. His brothers, well they all got along in some ways, since they mostly ignored each other, but most of the girls needed attention, and Jett didn't know how to deal with that. Why couldn't girls be like Altessa and interesting like that? It wasn't... it didn't make sense.
Her new friend was in trouble because of her brother. That wasn't good. That wasn't nice. Imelda understood on some level that her brother hadn't meant to do anything bad-- since Jett was the only one of the boys who really paid any attention to her. But at the same time, Alessandro was upset now! That wasn't good! Imelda didn't know what to do, her emotions swinging between two extremes of anger at Jett and confusion at what was happening.
Finally managing to free the tiny creature, Raven gave her kids a wane smile. "There you go. Now play nice, children," she offered Alessandro back to them. "Less webs, I think. Maybe you can show Jett your player, Immy?" she suggested before turning back to her work.
Enough for one day...
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 3:48 am
Gathering the information from Winter had been surprisingly easy, given that the girl seemed to not care much about where her information went. Perhaps it was the arrival of Winter's ward, that mysterious youth who spoke only when he chose to do so, only saying what he felt needed to be said to explain the situation, never mentioning his own opinions. Or perhaps Winter just really didn't care. Who knew?
Raven, however, was another story altogether.
"Raven--"
"Do you think I'm not still upset with you?" Raven asked quietly as she watched Imelda play with her cousin and her sisters. The little girl was growing up quite well-- she'd have to put her findings together in a comprehensive report later when her sister wasn't making her so upset.
"That's not the point, Rav--" Arch began before taking a deep breath. "Look. You'll benefit from this too. I made sure of that. You're curious about what's going on, what's happening, why these children exist, and with the history that this boy could give us, it'll give us a clearer idea of what's happening," she tried to use a bit of logic against her sister. Arch wasn't good at manipulating her sisters. Others, yes, but not her sisters. She couldn't use her magic on her sisters.
Hera glanced back at her mother and her aunt, considering the situation. Unofficially, Hera was in charge right now, but that didn't mean she shouldn't pay attention to the interaction going on over there as well, especially given the tension that had risen between Mother and Aunt Arch recently. These things... they didn't bode well. Then again, nothing seemed to bode well these days, especially not with-- "ERIANTHE!" Hera chided, turning to her sister, catching the lemur by her tail. "You can't push J around like that!"
"She started it!" Erianthe protested, jerking her tail away from Hera. Bossy kid thought she could tell everyone else off, just because she'd been around longer. Like that meant anything. Erianthe didn't listen to people she didn't want to, and she seldom felt the want to listen to Hera.
"She's littler than you--"
"So? Mel's just as big as J, but you let her push J around?"
"Imelda's not pushing her for real, just tugging at her," Hera glared at Erianthe, wondering why the redhead had to be such a brat. "You know she does that--"
"Don't talk about me like I'm not here!" Imelda stamped her foot, glaring at her sisters.
"Be quiet, Mel, I'm talking to Hera--"
"--about me!"
Oblivious to the bickering girls, Raven sighed softly as she let Arch's words slip in. There was truth there, there were pieces to what Arch said which resonated within Raven on many levels... she couldn't deny that. And yet, she didn't want to admit her sister was right either. How could she condone what Arch had done? Teaming up with those who'd torn apart a soul into three pieces to give them each to a child they'd created? "...and why are you so eager to help him?"
"Because..." Arch paused, unsure of how much she could tell Raven. There were things she shouldn't... but then again, not telling her sisters was what had gotten her in trouble in the first place. "...I stole his dream. Accidentally," she added hastily at Raven's horrified look, knowing her sister's sharp mind would understand what she meant. Erimentha, Arch's daughter-- the dream forced into flesh, stolen from the dreamscape.
"...it seems like we don't have a choice--"
Jerusha screamed, pain shooting through her young body-- or, more accurately, shooting from her finger through her hand, seeming to spread through her body. Hurthurthurthurthurt-- she couldn't think, could only stand there, trying to figure out what hurt, why, how to make it stop.
Whirling about, away from Raven, Arch's golden eyes shot open in surprise-- what was-- Jerusha--
First to the scene was Hera though, catching her young cousin's hands before she managed to hurt herself more, holding them steady long enough to see the little yellow and black bug fall to the ground, weakly crawling away. A bee. Unsurprising, given that they were in the backyard, but why was Jerusha screaming so mu-- ooh. Stung, hm? But Hera had never dealt with that--
Scared into silence, Imelda stared at her cousin like the girl had grown an extra head or two, shrinking back. Such a loud scream coming from her cousin-- had she been hurt by their playing? They'd only been playing, but... "J, stop it!" she whispered fiercely to the angel. "You're making too much noise! What's wrong?!"
Dimly, she heard her cousin speaking, telling her to be quiet, Hera's voice calling for Mommy and Aunty Raven, but... "Hurts," she whimpered softly in Hera's grasp, shivering slightly, though she'd stopped screaming at the touch of another person. Cousin. Hera. Hera fixed things. But Mommy...
If she'd ever needed more proof that her baby cousin was just a little baby, this was it. Erianthe grimaced at the screaming until it stopped, daring to creep closer only after she was sure that J would be silent. What had happened? Bug on the ground-- bug. Yellow bug. Bee? Probably. There were a bunch of those around the house...
Thank heavens for small favors. Hera seemed to have calmed J down enough for Arch to take the girl, considering her fingers. Where was-- there. "Hold still, Jeru-sweetheart," Arch crooned before using her long nails to delicately scrape the stinger out of the wound.
Hurthurthurt-- less hurt, but still... "Mommy, hurt," Jerusha whined, big blue eyes filled with genuine tears. She wasn't used to this feeling, and she'd only too recently begun to experience sensations, meaning that everything felt overly sensitized. "Make it stop..."
But Arch didn't know how to heal. It just wasn't in her-- she was better at killing than healing, better at taking life in the midst of pleasure than enriching it. "Shh, sweetheart..."
Gently catching the little girl's hand, taking it from her sister, Raven drew a symbol, hiding it from the gathered bunch, wrapping it around her niece's finger. "Just quiet now, Jerusha. Hopefully this will keep it from hurting more. Erianthe, go get a bandage and an ice pack, please," Raven instructed the redhead, waiting until she'd gone before looking at her two blondes. "Hera, Immy, please get me my salves and some Benadryl from the kitchen, all right?" she directed them, waiting until they'd gone off before giving her sister a pointed look.
~This is why we shouldn't argue when the children are around. We get distracted,~ she thought into Arch's mind, calling upon the seldom-used bond between them.
...this was what happened. Raven knew so much more about caring for children, she had healing salves, she knew techniques Arch ignored. She fixed things. Arch... well, she was trying. Nodding slightly to Raven's comment, Arch gently wiped away Jerusha's tears, kissing her on the forehead. "Shh, sweetheart. It'll be all right soon."
Something was happening. Aunty's hand was warm, so warm-- warm enough to dull the pain, though Jerusha could still feel a strange thumping in her finger, a pulsing beat. Sniffling a little, Jerusha tried to put her mind elsewhere, somewhere that didn't hurt anymore.
Immy carried the Benadryl back, watching Hera clutch the bag. Her sister was worried-- that much Imelda could tell very easily. What was going on? Imelda didn't really understand-- after all, J had gotten hurt, and then... then what? Mommy was trying to make it better? But could she? She'd made other people's hurts better, but J's was different, it was because of a little bug...
Bandage. Ice pack. And the little lemur girl didn't want to argue with her sisters anymore, handing the objects over to Raven as Hera and Imelda gave their offerings as well, watching in silence as Raven bandaged up Jerusha. This was something of a familiar scene for Erianthe-- given how often she got herself in scrapes-- but it was strange seeing it from the outside, seeing her cousin hurt. Did this happen because she'd been distracting-- no. This was Hera's fault. She was supposed to take care of J.
"There you go, J. Good as new," Raven released the angel, nodding to Arch. "I think that's enough playing for one day."
~I'll get you what you need.~
Nodding to her sister and scooping Jerusha up, Arch and the little angel bid the girls farewell and headed home. Enough adventuring for now.
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Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 10:16 am
Pouting slightly, Imelda stared unhappily at the paper in front of her with the strange squiggles on there. Mother had written them, told her to trace, explained what was going on there. Mother wanted Immy to be able to learn the stuff that she was interested in, not just what Immy liked. After all, it made sense on some levels. The whole family knew so much, and Imelda wanted to be able to know some of it too, which was the only reason why she was listening to her mother, trying to focus on the marks.
"Line. Line. Line-- they're all just lines," Immy sighed softly to herself as she copied the lines onto the next page, over and over again. The lines themselves didn't mean anything, but what Mother had said was that if she wrote the lines enough, it would mean that she would learn new letters, just like the letters she'd had to learn for english only these ones were for this new language, Japanese.
Probably, if she learned these letters today, Raven would give her a new toy, something new to play with. After all, it would be a lot more fun to have something new that was hers and only hers, so... she would be a good kid, and she would listen, and she would--
"So, it's your turn to learn the language now," Jett mused from behind the little blonde girl, moving close to her. "Not surpris-- you haven't done it right," the spider boy murmured, tracing over Imelda's scribbles with a delicate finger. "You should be more careful with those. You have to do what Mother showed you exactly," he explained, helping move her pencil over the paper.
"But the way she did it isn't pretty!" Imelda protested, liking her squiggles a little more than the ones that Mother had made. "I want it to be prettier than everything else," she pouted.
"It's not a matter of being pretty, it's a matter of being right," Jett smiled slightly. "If you can do it right, then you can put your own version into it," he tried to keep from laughing at his little sister. She just didn't understand the way the world worked sometimes, that things had to go in steps before they could be considered done, that you couldn't skip steps just because you didn't like the way things seemed aesthetically. It wasn't as if it were that different, but... it mattered. Order mattered in a world like this one, and Jett wanted to make sure his sister understood that.
Jett had the annoying quality of making sense. It wasn't really fair, but... Imelda understood what he meant, what he was trying to say to her about this whole business. She'd listen because he was her brother and she knew he knew what he was talking about, even if she didn't like it. That's the way they worked together... and Imelda knew she should get used to it sooner rather than later, since if she didn't... well, things might get messy.
Rolled
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Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 1:31 pm
Dear Diary,
Trying to learn how to make new letters but Jett says Im doing it wrong. But he would know because he like me and he showed me his writing. Hes good at writing. Hes good at knowing the way to make the lines look like Mommys lines that she drew as an example for me to draw from. Mommy says I still have to learn because its important to try but I think she wants me to learn because it's important to her for me to try.
Mommy thinks I dont know that she wants me and everyone else in our family to learn lots but I know because I watch her make people learn and its important to her. If learning wasnt important to her she wouldnt have the really big library that Mekt likes so much. Learnings important. She says something about hair-e-tege being important and thats what means something because its where you came from.
But its not really where we came from. We came from lots of places like how Mommy says the book in her room is gonna become something or someone else. Were not from different places except for places on Gaia. But I guess its where Mommy comes from so thats why its important to her. Or its where someone mommy knows comes from because thats the way mommy works caring about people and about how they work and where they come from and whats important to them.
Mommy showed me pictures of the place where people speak the words shes teaching me now. Its pretty but I think its not a real place because real places arent usually that pretty. Or mommys only showing me part of the place. I dont know which or if its both but Jett thinks that its real.
Jett says that the place is probably gone by now or somewhere else because mommy isnt where she started out either. I dont know if hes right or not but if that place is gone maybe there are other people who know about this place and then we can learn more. Mommy would like that. She likes learning. But at the same time I dont like learning a lot but I like the pictures. The way these letters are like pictures is pretty.
Mommy told me these letters came from pictures so maybe thats why theyre pretty. I want to see more pretty letters like these but Mommy says that I have to learn things in order so I have to learn the ones she gives me before she gives me new ones to look at. I want to just look at the pretties but Mommy knows that Ill be good and study them if it means I can see more.
Weird that mommy knows that pretties are so important to me but she doesnt buy them for me. Usually. She only gives me little things sometimes like she gives everyone else small things. I wonder why she doesnt give me more... I want them more...
Oh well. My hand hurts.
~Imelda
Rolling Post Here
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 12:33 pm
Tracing the letters on the paper, Imelda glared at them. She now had ten pretty squiggly things, each one representing a sound. They made for a good distraction against the annoying cousin who was deliberately annoying her by being there trying to take the attention by being around her most important brother. A, E, I, O, U. Ka, Ke, Ki, Ko, Ku. Ten.
"Immy, I thought you came over here to play," Jerusha sighed softly, placing a webbed hand on her cousin's arm, "not to try to ignore Cece." Not that the angel had really expected anything else, but... really. You'd think that at least once they'd be able to get along for a little while, right?
"I'm studying," Imelda replied, her voice sharper than she'd intended it to be. She wasn't frustrated with J, but with the other one, but J was interrupting and trying to make this not about what it was about.
"Immy dun' like me an' dun' like Jett talkin' tu me," Cece grinned, leaning against the black widow boy. She liked taking the attention away from her cousin because it meant that attention fell onto her, and that was important.
"He's not talking to you!" Imelda snapped, glancing over at Jett to confirm that her best-friend-brother wasn't talking to her arch nemesis.
Weaving his web, Jett glanced up at the commotion between the girls. He'd only come to Aunt Arch's house because Mother thought it would keep the tension down between the constantly arguing cousins, but apparently it wasn't working. Unless... he was supposed to be doing something to stop it? How could he? He didn't understand it. People acted in ways he didn't get all the time, especially his passionate sister and cousin.
"He not talkin' tu you," Cece pointed out. "He spendin' moa tyme wit me~"
"Jett!" Imelda protested, turning away from her studies to pout at her brother, hopefully convincingly. She needed his reassurance. She needed to make sure he was still on her side like he'd always been.
Closing his eyes for a moment, Jett took a long breath. "I'm not talking to either of you," the spider boy finally decided. After all, he had to say something with them. "I'm just sitting here until Mother and Arch are finished talking with the strangers."
Jerusha grimaced. Of all the people in the world, it had to be Jett, didn't it? He would never be able to handle all the problems that these two created, but somehow, for some reason, Imelda had come to care about him more than others. Of course the girl would choose the easiest person for her to manipulate.
Before the kids could come to another disagreement, Arch and Raven appeared out of the room with the two strangers. Raven took one look at the children and excused herself, moving to consider all of them before smiling ruefully. "Well, I hope you all behaved yourselves," she laughed softly, knowing all too well from the faces of each child that they'd been arguing again. This was the general state of being for her kids, wasn't it? This arguing that meant they understood each other at least...
"Time to go, Jett, Immy."
Rolled3
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 2:40 am
Dear Diary,
I hate Cece. Shes not a nice person. She always wants to make me seem not good when Im around other people and especially Jett. She likes pretending to be better than me. Shes not. I know that and Jett knows that and thats whats important. Jett doesn't care about Cece. That makes me feel better.
I played with my letters again today. I got to ten and Mommy says shes going to give me more. Shes happy with how fast I'm learning the letters and shes surprised too. I pick up fast Mommy says. Shes teaching me songs too that I can sing and dance to but theyre in this new language so I can learn about them.
Mommy says shes not going to tell me what some of the songs mean. I think its her way of testing me and showing me how to learn about the way things go because she wants me to learn more about everything. I think its funny that she thinks I dont know shes trying to teach me things. I dont mind it because its funny that shes doing it this way.
Jett told me something weird. He said that even though Cece and I fight we get along. Maybe even because of it. He said that even though we fight it just means that we care about each other because people dont fight if they dont care about each other. I dont believe him.
But its an important idea to think about which is why Im writing it in my journal. Diary.
Oh well. Ill think more about it later. If mommy finds out Im still awake now shell be mad. So night for now...
~Imelda
Rolled
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 3:43 pm
Dear Diary,
I stole the letter sheets from Mommy. She got mad but she was interested because I showed her I could write things when I try even though she didnt teach me. She pretends to still be mad because she knows that I shouldnt steal but at the same time she wants to see how much I can learn by myself too. It means something to her to watch me figure out the letters on my own. Its funny.
あいうえお。かきくけこ。さしすせそ。たちつてと。なにぬねの。はひふへほ。まみむめも。やゆよ。らりるれろ。わんを。
That's the alphabet I learned. I can write it all together. I know some of what it means. I get it now.
...and that got me a present from Mommy. She bought me a new book full of pretty pictures and it even has a cd with music I can dance to even if I dont understand whats being said. I think Mommy thinks that in a while Ill be able to understand what the songs mean even if she doesnt tell me because Im showing her that I can learn things on my own.
Its like a test which means that its a bad thing but it can be a good thing. Right? I mean its not bad to learn I guess even if it takes time. Because Im learning something that Cece will never know because Aunty Arch doesnt like teaching and Eri doesnt really understand how she learns things cause she just learns them.
So thats what it means. I can learn something about something Cece wont understand and since Jett understands it means that I have something better. Thats worth all the studying because Jett is my brother. Mine.
~Imelda
Rolled
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